Railway-track construction.



M. BABTLEY. RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914 1 1 07,018. Patented Aug. 11, 1914 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR M. BARTLEY.

RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914.

Patented Aug. 11 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 24 kl 5% 7/ A 1% WITNESSES 1n: NORRIS PETERS cu.

UNITED STATES MILTON BARTLEY, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'PatentedAug. 11, 1914;.

App1ication filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 839,744.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON ,BARTLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Track Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railway track construction, andparticularly to means for positively maintaining the guard rails ofswitches, crossovers, etc, in fixed positive relation to the main railsof the track, and especially at positions opposite the crossover pointof the ordinary frog construction, for the purpose of insuring alinementof the wheel treads therewith, and preventing any variation in passingover the space between the frog point and the main rail.

The invention i also adapted to thevprotection of the main rails of atrack against spreading, at switch junctures, one emb0di= ment of theinvention being illustrated in such application.

The invention consists generally in providing, with the frog and theopposite guard rail for the companion track rail, or with the outertrack rails of a switch construc-. tion, means for fixedly holding theguard rail in relation to the outer track rail and the frogconstruction, or for maintaining the outer rails, of a switch, in fixedunvarying relation and uniform gage.

Ordinarily, guard rails, or track rails at; switches, are merely held inposition on the. cross ties, and with relation to the inner side of theouter rail, in the case of a guard rail, by shoes, clamps or braces ofdifferent. form, either spiked to the tie, or connected in some manner,as by an embracing clevis with the outer rail.

My invention provides positive bracing means between the frogconstruction, or the outer rails thereof, and the guard rail for theopposite companion rail; or between the outer rails of a switch,independent of the movable switch point, such means consisting generallyin resisting or bracing membersand intervening sectional body portions,operable either as strut members or tension members,having adjustablemechanism for clamping the rail braces and engaging portions intoholding engagement against the track members, also intermediateindependent length. adjusting members, the construction being intendedto also engage a supporting tie.

Preferred forms of the construction are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad crossoverprovided with the usual center frog construction, the outer track rails,and their guard rails, showing one form of the invention asapplied. Fig.2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line II. II. ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of the constructionillustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view, similar to Fig.1, showingthe invention as applied to a switch. Fig. 5 is an enlargedlongitudinal. sectional view on the line V. V. of Fig. 4;. Fig. 6 is across sectional detail view, enlarged, taken on the line VI. VI. of Fig.3, showing the adjustable wedge. Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view,showing a modified detail construction of the locking wedge. Fig. 8 is across sectional detail view on the line VIII. VIII. of Fig. 8.

In the drawings, referring to Sheet 1, the main inner track rails 2, 3,converge and form continuations of the tread surfaces of frog member 4:,of the usual frog, having at each side the customary guard rail members5 and 6 respectively, of well-known construction. Rails 2 and 3 areparts of the two main tracks, composed of the rails 2 and 2respectively, and 3 and 3 respectively. The guard rails 5 and 6 of thefrog member converge toward the point a. between which and the point 6of the frog is the intervening open space 0. The treads of the wheels,as is well-known, run across such open space and off of the main trackrails 2 and 3respectively and onto the point Z) of the frog 4:, orviceversa from either side, and it is highly important that the treadsand flanges of the wheels shall cross this space accurately and surelyto insure safety and free trackage.

' For such purpose, the guard rails 7 and 8 respectively are ordinarilylaid along the inner side of the opposite rails 2 and 3 respectively,and opposite the middle portion of the frog which is to be protected,extending to a considerable distance at each side thereof, as is theusual practice. For the purpose of firmly and fixedly bracing the guardrail members 7 and 8, I provide the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3,0f the drawings, and indicated generally by the letter A, referringgenerally to the complete composite member extending between one maintrack member and the other. In such case the member A constitutes abracing spanner or member composed of two con nected plate members 9 and10 respectively, each having opposed inner terminal abutments 11 and 12respectively, fitting against the head, web and flange of the innermostrail at each side, i. 6., rail section 6 of the frog at one side andguard rail 8 at the other side. Abutment 11 is fixedly secured to plate9 by bolts 13, and abutment 12 is adjustably secured to plate .10 bysimilar bolts 1%. Said bolts may be tapped directly into the plate 10 ormay be provided with nuts on the under side; preferably recessed in thesame manner, as are the nuts shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The inner adjacentconnecting ends of plate members 9 and 10 are each provided with anupwardly extending flange or wall. 15, said flanges being fixedlyconnected together by intervening bolts 16. Said bolts, preferably twofor each joint, are provided with adjusting nuts 17, whereby each flangemay be positively engaged and fixedly located or spaced apart, oraccurately adjusted, as desired. For the purpose of insulating one ofthe plate members and its parts from the other, one of the flanges 15 isprovided with insulating thimbles and washers, of well-knownconstruction, as indicated at 18, and more particularly illustrated inFig. 5. By this means, the passage of electric currents from one memberto the other is prevented. For the purpose of providing supplementaladjustment for one of the abutments 12, its rear end is chanifere'dortapered crosswise, as indicated at 19, and'between such edge and theinner face of flange 15 is interposed the wedge member 20, for thepurpose of accurately adjusting the abutment 12 toward or from the rail8. Wedge 20 is secured in position by a bolt 21 extending through alongitudinal slot 22 of the wedge, such bolt being either tapped intothe plate member 10, as in Fig. 2, or into a nut 23, preferably recessedinto the under side of member 10, to prevent turning, as

shown in Fig. 6. As an additional holding means for wedge 20, againstreceding from engagement with face 19 of abutment 12, it

is provided with a series of transverse shoulders 24, one of which isadapted to engage over the edge of plate member 10 when the wedge isadjusted and screwed down in place, thereby fixedly holding it againstmovement.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified construction of wedge 20, mounted uponplate member 10' by means ofthe bolt 21 and nut 23, above described, butprovided at its narrowed end with a pivoted locking dog 24L? having aseries of locking shoulders 24:, and rotatably mounted on a pivoting pin24", within a slot 24;, and provided with an upwardly extendingoperating finger 24. iy such construction the same securing hold may behad against the edge of the plate member 10. A filler block 25 isinterposed at intervals between the guard rail 8 and track rail 3,preferably with one or more liners 26, whereby to firmly brace the railsapart and provide for setting the guard rail up toward the main rail,when its inner face becomes worn, by removing the liner, which may be ofany degree of thickness.

In the switch construction, illustrated on Sheet 2 of the drawings, theouter track rails 2 and 3 are provided with the inner adjustableswitching rails 27, 2S, tapering to switch points, of well-knownconstruction, and provided with connecting members 29 and an operatingrod 30 for shifting the switch points. Plate members 9 and 1.0, ofgenerally similar construction to members 9 and 10 above described, arealso provided with adjacent upwardly extending flanges 15", andconnected by the same adjusting bolts 16 and their nuts, as abovedescribed. The plate members, however, each extend underneath the rails2 and 3, and are provided at their outer ends with lug members 31 andouter abutments 11 and. 12. Said abutments engage against the outerhead, wedge and flange of the rails 53 and 2", as shown, and alsoagainst the outer abutments 31, and are fixedly secured in position bybolts 32, thus providing substantial. reinforcements against the outerside of each rail. Inwardly of each rail 2 and 3" is a supplementalplate 33, preferably secured to the plate member 9 or 10 by one or morebolts 34, or in. any other suitable manner, whereby to facilitatereinforcing engagement against the inner flange of rails 2 and 3. Uponplates 33, as thus provided, are slidably mounted switch rails 27, 28,respectively, adapted to be moved in either direction by the usualoperating mechanism.

lhe construction as above described is substantially the same as thatfor the cross over, except that it eliminates the supplemental wedgemember 20, but embodies intervening adjusting and holding bolts, wherebyto fixedly locate the members with relation to each other. It will beunderstood that the plate member in either case is s'e- I cured to theusual cross tie, with any suitable bolt or spike construction. Where apair of bolts are provided, as indicated in Fig. 8, such bolts 35 may betapped into twin nuts 36, preferably recessed up underneath the underside of member 9, whereby to effectually prevent turning of the nut onloosening of the bolt.

l Vith either of the constructions described, it will be seen that theplate members provide a good supporting foundation for the rails; thatthe abutments by engaging the rails will positively and effectuallybrace them against movement; that the adjustability of the abutments andthe positive securing of them in position will effectively hold andmaintain the rail member in positive position, so as to resist pressureand strains and carry out the objects of the invention.

The advantages of the improvement will be readily appreciated by allthose familiar with this class of apparatus. It insures positive andpermanent spacing and maintenance of the guard rails, or of the mainrails when used with a switch; it provides for immediate and easyadjustment, so that any wear of the rails by the Wheel flanges may becompensated for; and is simple in construction, strong and reliable, andnot liable to get out of order.

The device may be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanicin various features of detail construction, but all such changes are tobe considered as within the scope of the following claims.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a railway frog, an opposite track rail, and aprotecting guard rail therefor; of bracing abutments directly engagingthe web of the frog and guard rail respectively, and an interveningbracing mechanism composed of a pair of tandem plates having adjacentflange portions, bolts connecting said portions provided with adjustingnuts, the outer portions of said plates extending underneath the railstructure and each provided with a bracing abutment fixedly secured toits upper surface and engaging the rail structure, one of said plateshaving an adjustable abutment and a wedge bearing directly against theplate flange, substantially as set forth.

2. Rail bracing mechanism comprising a plurality of supporting plates intandem arrangement adapted to be laid upon the upper surface of a tieand each having an inner connecting flange, said plates extending bytheir outer portions underneath the rails and provided with rail bracingabutments, one of said abutments being longitudinally adjustable uponone of said plates, and an adjustable wedge for holding said abutmentfixedly in position bearing directly agalnst abutment and the flange ofthe plate and bearing directly against it, substantially as set forth.

4:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of twolongitudinally arranged supporting plates adapted to be laid upon arailroad tie, each having an inner flange, bolts adjustably securingsaid flanges together, a rail bracing abutment fixedly secured to one ofsaid plates, a rail bracing abutment adjustably secured to the other ofsaid plates extending inwardly adjacent to its inner flange a wedgedevice adjustably inserted between the inner end of said abutment andthe flange of the plate and bearing directly against it and means foradjusting and fixedly holding said wedge in position, substantially asset forth.

55. Guard rail bracing mechanism of the class described consisting of apair of rail supporting plates adapted to be laid upon a tie havinginner adjacent connecting flanges and adjusting securing bolts extendingtherethrough, one of said plates having at its outer end an outwardlypressing rail bracing abutment, the other of said plates having at itsouter end an inwardly extending pressing bracing abutment, and an inneroutwardly bracing abutment adjustably secured to the plate, and meansinterposing resistance therefor bearing directly against the connectingflange of the plate, substantially as set forth.

6. Guard rail bracing mechanism of the class described consisting of apair of rail supporting plates adapted to be laid upon a tie havinginner adjacent connecting flanges and adjusting securing bolts extendingtherethrough, one of said plates having at its outer end an outwardlypressing rail bracing abutment, the other of said plates having at itsouter end an inwardly extending pressing bracing abutment, an inneroutwardly bracing abutment adjustably secured to the plate, and anadjustable wedge device interposed between it and the connecting flangeof said plate and bearing directly against said flange and means forholding said wedge in position, substantially as set forth.

7. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with thesupporting plate and an adjustable rail bracing abutment In testimonywhereof I hereunto aflix my thereon, of 'a holding Wedge operableagainst signature in the presence of two Witnesses. said abutment ancprovided With a seour- 7 ing bolt, and having a plurality of trans-MILTON BARTLLX 5 verse shoulders for individual engagement Witnesses:

With the edge of the plate, substantially as O. M. CLARKE, set forth.Fnnon. STAUB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

